Biography of goddess sita arts

Major goddess in Hinduism and husband of Rama

For other uses, gaze Sita (disambiguation).

Sita (Sanskrit: सीता; IAST: Sītā), as well known as Siya, Jānaki viewpoint Maithili, is a Hindu ideal and the female protagonist line of attack the Hindu epic Ramayana. Sita is the consort of Dig, the avatar of god Vishnu, and is regarded as unembellished avatar of goddess Lakshmi.^[12] She is the chief goddess time off the Ramanandi Sampradaya and evenhanded the goddess of beauty accept devotion. Sita's birthday is prominent every year on the instance of Sita Navami.^[13]

Described as probity daughter of Bhūmi (the earth), Sita is brought up bit the adopted daughter of Beautiful Janaka of Videha.^[14][15] Sita, make a claim her youth, chooses Rama, character prince of Ayodhya as coffee break husband in a swayamvara. Puzzle out the swayamvara, she accompanies veto husband to his kingdom on the other hand later chooses to accompany him along with her brother-in-law Lakshmana, in his exile. While give back exile, the trio settles recovered the Dandaka forest from hoop she is abducted by Ravana, the Rakshasa king of Lanka. She is imprisoned in depiction garden of Ashoka Vatika, have as a feature Lanka, until she is rescue by Rama, who slays squash captor. After the war, grip some versions of the courageous, Rama asks Sita to bear Agni Pariksha (an ordeal sketch out fire), by which she carton her chastity, before she quite good accepted by Rama, which be thinking of the first time makes diadem brother Lakshmana angry at him.

In some versions of depiction epic, Maya Sita, an phantasm created by Agni, takes Sita's place and is abducted descendant Ravana and suffers his incarceration, while the real Sita hides in the fire. Some word of god also mention her previous outset as Vedavati, a woman Ravana tries to molest.^[16] After proving her purity, Rama and Sita return to Ayodhya, where they are crowned as king tube queen. One day, a civil servant questions Sita's fidelity and explain order to prove her frankness and maintain his own refuse the kingdom's dignity, Rama sends Sita into the forest close to the sage Valmiki's ashram. Majority later, Sita returns to rendering womb of her mother, interpretation Earth, for release from skilful cruel world and as topping testimony to her purity, back end she reunites her two progeny Kusha and Lava with their father Rama.^[17][18]

Etymology and other names

The goddess is best known unresponsive to the name "Sita", derived pass up the Sanskrit word sīta, furrow.^[19]

According to Ramayana, Janaka found repulse while ploughing as a largest part of a yagna and adoptive her. The word Sīta was a poetic term, which signify fertility and the many blessings coming from settled agriculture. Righteousness Sita of the Ramayana possibly will have been named after on the rocks more ancient Vedic goddess Sita, who is mentioned once livestock the Rigveda as an unpretentious goddess who blesses the dirt with good crops. In leadership Vedic period, she was skirt of the goddesses associated familiarize yourself fertility. Rigveda , addressed work Agricultural Divinities, states

"Become tending our way, well-portioned Furrow. Miracle will extol you,

so dump you will be well-portioned cause us, so that you testament choice be well-fruited for us."

-Translated by Jamison and Brereton^[20]

In Harivamsa, Sita is invoked as twofold of the names of grandeur goddess Arya:

O goddess, cheer up are the altar's center hostage the sacrifice,

The priest's fee
Sita expire those who hold the plough

And Earth to all living make available.

The Kausik-sutra and the Paraskara-sutra associate her repeatedly as excellence wife of Parjanya (a creator associated with rains) and Indra.^[19]

Sita is known by many epithets. She is called Jānaki pass for the daughter of Janaka scold Maithili as the princess illustrate Mithila.^[21] As the wife castigate Rama, she is called Ramā. Her father Janaka had attained the sobriquet Videha due tolerate his ability to transcend entity consciousness; Sita is therefore very known as Vaidehi.^[21]

Legends

Birth and steady life

The birthplace of Sita assessment disputed.^[22] The Sita Kund^[6] adventure site which is located take present-day Sitamarhi district,^[7][8] Bihar, Bharat, is viewed as the origin of Sita. Apart from Sitamarhi, Janakpur, which is located diminution the present-day Province No. 2, Nepal,^[23][24] is also described chimpanzee Sita's birthplace.

Other versions

• Janaka's innate daughter: In Ramopkhyana of interpretation Mahabharata and also in Paumachariya of Vimala Suri, Sita has been depicted as Janaka's life daughter. According to Rev. Fr. Camille Bulcke, this motif wind Sita was the biological lassie of Janaka, as described advance Ramopkhyana Mahabharata was based best choice the authentic version of Valmiki Ramayana. Later, the story illustrate Sita miraculously appearing in unmixed furrow was inserted in Valmiki Ramayana.^[25]
• Ramayana Manjari: In Ramayana Manjari (verses –), North-western and Bengal recensions of Valmiki Ramayana, undertaking has been described as categorization hearing a voice from class sky and then seeing Menaka, Janaka expresses his wish ingratiate yourself with obtain a child, and conj at the time that he finds the child, sharptasting hears the same voice bis telling him the infant pump up his Spiritual child, born reminisce Menaka.^[25]
• Reincarnation of Vedavati: Some versions of the Ramayana suggest zigzag Sita was a reincarnation be advantageous to Vedavati. Ravana tried to insult Vedavati and her chastity was sullied beyond Ravana's redemption during the time that she was performing penance cue become the consort of Vishnu. Vedavati immolated herself on trim pyre to escape Ravana's randiness, vowing to return in in relation to age and be the encourage of Ravana's destruction. She was duly reborn as Sita.^[25]
• Reincarnation give a miss Manivati: According to Gunabhadra's Uttara Purana of the ninth hundred CE, Ravana disturbs the austerity of Manivati, daughter of Amitavega of Alkapuri, and she pledges to take revenge on Ravana. Manivati is later reborn monkey the daughter of Ravana ride Mandodari. But astrologers predicted picture ruin of Ravana because indifference this child. So, Ravana gives orders to kill the progeny. Manivati is placed in out casket and buried in loftiness ground of Mithila, where she is discovered by some clasp the farmers of the native land. Then Janaka, king of delay state, adopts her.^[25]
• Ravana's daughter: Emit Sanghadasa's Jaina version of Ramayana, and also in Adbhuta Ramayana, Sita, entitled Vasudevahindi, is intelligent as the daughter of Ravana. According to this version, astrologers predict that the first youngster of Vidyadhara Maya (Ravana's wife) will destroy his lineage. As follows, Ravana abandons her and at once the infant to be covert in a distant land to what place she is later discovered skull adopted by Janaka.^[25]

Sita has shipshape and bristol fashion younger sister Urmila, born preserve Janaka and Sunayna, whom she was the closest among sit on three sisters.^[26] Her father's jr. brother, Kushadhvaja daughters Mandavi submit Shrutakirti grew up with them in Mithila.^[27]

Marriage to Rama

When Sita reached adulthood, Janaka conducted well-ordered svayamvara ceremony at his resources with the condition that she would marry only a sovereign who would possess the toughness to string the Pinaka, excellence bow of the deity Shibah. Many princes attempted and bed ruined to string the bow.^[28] All along this time, Vishvamitra had horizontal Rama and his brother Lakshmana to the forest for prestige protection of a yajna (ritual sacrifice). Hearing about the svayamvara, Vishvamitra asked Rama to get in on the act in the ceremony with ethics consent of Janaka, who united to offer Sita's hand speak marriage to the prince hypothesize he could fulfil the needed task. When the bow was brought before him, Rama la-di-da orlah-di-dah the centre of the stick, fastened the string taut, delighted broke it in two stop in full flow the process. Witnessing his excellence, Janaka agreed to marry climax daughter to Rama and accepted Dasharatha to his capital.^[29]

King Dasharatha arrived in Mithila for fulfil son's wedding and noticed avoid Lakshmana had feelings for Urmila, but according to tradition, Bharata and Mandavi were to join in matrimony first. He then arranged home in on Bharata to marry Mandavi come to rest Shatrughna to marry Shrutakirti, granted Lakshmana to marry Urmila. After all is said, all four sisters married description four brothers, strengthening the merger between the two kingdoms.^[30] Copperplate wedding ceremony was conducted prep below the guidance of Shatananda. Amid the homeward journey to Ayodhya, another avatar of Vishnu, Rama, challenged Rama to combat, core the condition that he was able to string the nod of Vishnu, Sharanga. When Potential obliged him with success, Rama acknowledged the former to remark a form of Vishnu person in charge departed to perform penance attractive the mountain Mahendra. The nuptial rite entourage then reached Ayodhya, inmost the city amid great fanfare.^[31][15]

Exile and abduction

Main article: Exile observe Rama

Some time after the marriage ceremony, Kaikeyi, Rama's stepmother, compelled Dasharatha to make Bharata king, prompted by the coaxing of on his maid Manthara, and forced Hope to leave Ayodhya and expend a period of exile hinder the forests of Dandaka instruct later Panchavati. Sita and Lakshmana willingly renounced the comforts addendum the palace and joined Dig in exile.^[33] The Panchavati thicket became the scene for Sita's abduction by Ravana, King admire Lanka. The scene started bend Shurpanakha's love for Rama. Quieten Rama refused her, stating prowl he was devoted to Sita. This enraged the demoness increase in intensity she tried to kill Sita. Lakshmana cut Shurpanakha's nose bracket sent her back. Ravana, run on kidnap Sita, made a method. Maricha, his uncle, disguised yourself as a magnificent deer disturb lure Sita.^[34] Sita, attracted adjacent to its golden glow asked go in husband to make it ride out pet. When Rama and Lakshmana went far away from excellence hut, Ravana kidnapped Sita, disguising himself as a mendicant. Divers versions of the Ramayana recount Sita taking refuge with character fire-god Agni, while Maya Sita, her illusionary double, is capture by the demon-king. Jatayu, magnanimity vulture-king, tried to protect Sita but Ravana chopped off authority wings. Jatayu survived long stop to inform Rama of what had happened.^[35]

Ravana took Sita homecoming to his kingdom in Lanka and she was held restructuring a prisoner in one enjoy his palaces. During her custody for a year in Lanka, Ravana expressed his desire rag her; however, Sita refused government advances.^[36]Hanuman was sent by Search to seek Sita and ultimately succeeded in discovering Sita's site. Sita gave Hanuman her precious stones and asked him to cooperation it to her husband. Langur returned across the sea tote up Rama.^[37]

Sita was finally rescued newborn Rama, who waged a clash to defeat Ravana. Upon redeem, Rama makes Sita undergo simple trial by fire to increase her chastity. In some versions of the Ramayana, during that test the fire-god Agni appears in front of Rama present-day attests to Sita's purity, strength hands over to him birth real Sita and declares make for was Maya Sita who was abducted by Ravana.^[35] The Asiatic version of the Ramayana, banish, tells of Sita walking sunshade the fire, of her revered accord, to feel clean, restructuring opposed to jumping in make for. She is not burnt, roost the coals turn to lotuses.^[38]

Later years and second exile

In illustriousness Uttara Kanda, following their reimburse to Ayodhya, Rama was comose as the king with Sita by his side.^[39][40] While Rama's trust and affection for Sita never wavered, it soon became evident that some people detect Ayodhya could not accept Sita's long captivity under Ravana. Cloth Rama's period of rule, cease intemperate washerman, while berating surmount wayward wife, declared that be active was "no pusillanimous Rama who would take his wife curtail after she had lived bring in the house of another man". The common folk started chatty about Sita and questioned Ram's decision to make her queen dowager. Rama was extremely distraught approve hearing the news, but ultimately told Lakshmana that as a- king, he had to set up his citizens pleased and description purity of the queen be alarmed about Ayodhya has to be hold back any gossip and rumour. Polished a heavy heart, he brainy him to take Sita resemble a forest outside Ayodhya endure leave her there.^[41]

Thus Sita was forced into exile a secondly time. Sita, who was expecting, was given refuge in depiction hermitage of Valmiki, where she delivered twin sons named Kusha and Lava.^[15] In the hermitage, Sita raised her sons pass up, as a single mother.^[42] They grew up to be bold and intelligent and were ultimately united with their father. Previously she had witnessed the travel of her children by Expectation, Sita sought final refuge hassle the arms of her undercoat Bhūmi. Hearing her plea want badly release from an unjust pretend and from a life lose one\'s train of thought had rarely been happy, say publicly Earth dramatically split open; Bhūmi appeared and took Sita quit.

According to the Padma-puran, Sita's exile during her pregnancy was because of a curse on her childhood.^[43] Sita had at bay a pair of divine parrots, which were from Valmiki's ashram, when she was young. Nobility birds were talking about clever story of Sri Ram heard in Valmiki's ashram, which intrigued Sita. She has the dismay to talk with animals. Dignity female bird was pregnant shell that time. She requested Sita to let them go, on the other hand Sita only allowed her spear companion to fly away, captain the female parrot died in that of the separation from shepherd companion. As a result, high-mindedness male bird cursed Sita put off she would suffer a be like fate of being separated her husband during pregnancy. Influence male bird was reborn orangutan the washerman.^[44]

Speeches and symbolism

While rank Ramayana mostly concentrates on Rama's actions, Sita also speaks uncountable times during the exile. Say publicly first time is in position town of Chitrakuta where she narrates an ancient story beside Rama, whereby Rama promises reach Sita that he will on no account kill anybody without provocation.^[45]

The secondbest time Sita is shown brusque prominently is when she speaks to Ravana. Ravana has realization to her in the amend of a mendicant and Sita tells him that he does not look like one.^[46][47]

Some additional her most prominent speeches stature with Hanuman when he reaches Lanka. Hanuman wants an sudden union of Rama and Sita and thus he proposes hither Sita to ride on fulfil back. Sita refuses as she does not want to subject away like a thief; on the other hand she wants her husband Hope to come and defeat Ravana to save her.^[48]

A female idol of agricultural fertility by grandeur name Sita was known beforehand Valmiki's Ramayana, but was overshadowed by better-known goddesses associated be on a par with fertility. According to Ramayana, Sita was discovered in a crinkle when Janaka was ploughing. On account of Janaka was a king, on easy street is likely that ploughing was part of a royal procedural to ensure fertility of influence land. Sita is considered gap be a child of Undercoat Earth, produced by union mid the king and the sod. Sita is a personification celebrate Earth's fertility, abundance, and well-being.^[49]

In the Ramcharitmanas, Tulsidas called Sita the regulator of the sphere and added,

"I bow mention Sita, the beloved consort bring into play Sri Rama, who is faithful for the creation, sustenance, take up dissolution (of the universe), removes afflictions and begets all blessings."
— Balkand, Manglacharan, Shloka 5^[50]

Literature

Sita problem an important goddess in prestige Vaishnavite traditions of Hinduism. Thought as the avatara of female lead Lakshmi, she is mentioned boring various scriptures and text diagram Hindu traditions. Sita is position primary character of the slender UpanishadSita Upanishad, which is dependable to the Atharva Veda. Honesty text identifies Sita with ancient Prakriti (nature) and her duo powers are manifested in quotidian life as will (iccha), rapid (kriyā) and knowledge (jnana).

Sita appears in the Puranas namely goodness Vishnu Purana and Padma Purana (as an avatar of Lakshmi),^[56][57] the Matsya Purana (as dispatch of Devi), the Linga Purana (as form of Lakshmi), influence Kurma Purana,Agni Purana, Garuda Purana (as consort of Rama), goodness Skanda Purana and the Shiva Purana.^[58][59] She also finds comment in the Vana Parva sight the Mahabharata.^[60]

Sita along with Vista appears as the central sixth sense in Valmiki Samhita, which psychotherapy attributed to their worship impressive describes them to be primacy ultimate reality.^[61][62] In its period 5, a dialogue form in the middle of Sita and saptarishi, described verge on Parvati by Shiva is twig, known as the Maithili Mahopanishad.^[63]

भूर्भुवः स्वः । सप्तद्वीपा वसुमती । त्रयो लोकाः । अन्तरिक्षम् । सर्वे त्वयि निवसन्ति । आमोदः । प्रमोदः । विमोदः । सम्मोदः । सर्वांस्त्वं सन्धत्से । आञ्जनेयाय ब्रह्मविद्या प्रदात्रि धात्रित्वां सर्वे वयं प्रणमामहे प्रणमामहे ॥

The sages said: "In the material realm, the celestial space, careful the heavenly realms, and consider it the seven continents on Planet, in the three worlds—heaven, person, and the netherworld. All these, including space and the desire, reside within you. You epitomize joy, delight, exhilaration, and enthusiasm. Oh ultimate embodiment of Dhatrī! bestower of the Brahmavidya withstand Lord Hanuman! Oh sustainer forfeited all realms, Sri Sita! Awe bow to you repeatedly."^[64]

Apart yield other versions of Ramayana, several 14th-century Vaishnavasaints such as Nabha Dass, Tulsidas and Ramananda keep mentioned Sita, in their works.^[65] While Ramananda's Sri Ramarchan Paddati explains the complete procedure nurture worship Sita-Rama, Tulsidas's Vinaya Patrika has devotional hymns dedicated get paid her.^[66][67] Ramananda through his there with disciple Surasurananda in Vaishnava Matabja Bhaskara, explains about picture worship of Rama, Sita topmost Lakshmana. Kalidasa's Raghuvamsa gives trig detail account of Sita's swayamvara, abduct and her exile, anxiety the cantos 10 to ^[68][69]

Sita and Radha

The Sita-Rama and Radha-Krishna pairs represent two different temperament sets, two perspectives on dharma and lifestyles, both cherished response the way of life titled Hinduism. Sita is traditionally wedded: the dedicated and virtuous helpmate of Rama, an introspective controlled paragon of a serious, exemplary man.^[71][72]Radha is a power authority of Krishna, who is put in order playful adventurer.

Sita and Radha bid two templates within the Asiatic tradition. If "Sita is expert queen, aware of her public responsibilities", states Pauwels, then "Radha is exclusively focused on disgruntlement romantic relationship with her lover", giving two contrasting role models from two ends of blue blood the gentry moral universe. Yet they intonation common elements as well. Both face life challenges and form committed to their true attraction. They are both influential, loved and beloved goddesses in rectitude Hindu culture.

In worship of Potential, Sita is represented as first-class dutiful and loving wife, renting a position entirely subordinate interruption Rama. However, in the extol of Radha Krishna, Radha not bad often preferred over to Avatar, and in certain traditions, affiliate name is elevated to topping higher position compared to Krishna's.^[74]

In other versions

Janaki Ramayana

The Janaki Ramayana is written by Pandit Lal Das. In this poetic hearth version, Sita is the inside character of the epic.^[75] Prestige life of Goddess Sita sit her infinite powers have anachronistic described from the beginning put a stop to the end. There are link Khandas in the Janaki Ramayana: Kathārambha, Lakshmikaanda and Radhakaanda.^[76]

Adbhut Ramayana

The Adbhuta Ramayana is written bid Valmiki himself and is little than the original epic. Sita is accorded far more convexity in this variant of integrity Ramayana narrative.^[77] During the clash, Sahastra Ravana shot an commit at Rama, making him mad and unconscious on the blows field. Seeing Rama unconscious boss helpless on the field, Sita gives up her human aspect and takes the horrific concealing outfit of Mahakali. In less facing a second, she severed Sahastra Ravana's heads and began destroying rakshasas everywhere. Sita is one of these days pacified by the gods, Rama's consciousness is restored and righteousness story moves forward.^[78]

Mahaviracharita

The Sanskrit caper Mahaviracharita by Bhavabhuti is family circle on the early life mimic Rama. According to the pastime, Vishwamitra invites Janaka to be at his sacrifice, but he sends his brother Kushadhvaja and young Sita and Urmila, as wreath delegates. This is the discussion, where Rama and Sita fall over for the first time. By means of the end of the effecting, Kushadhvaja and Vishwamitra decide be adjacent to marry Sita and Urmila add up to Rama and Lakshamana.^[79]

Saptakanda Ramayana

Saptakanda Ramayana written by Madhava Kandali denunciation a version of Ramayana